Synthesis, structure and deformation behaviour of superhard and damage tolerant PVD thin films based on nano structured nitrides of high-entropy multicomponent alloys
Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials and their Microstructural Origins
Final Report Abstract
The completed project deals with the characterization of the damage tolerance as well as the thermal stability of high entropy nitride coatings. For this purpose, six different coating systems [(AlCrTaTiZr)N, (AlCrMoTaTiZr)N, (AlCrNbSiTiV)N, (HfNbTiVZr)N, (CrHfTiVZr)N and (HfNbTaTiVZr)N] were deposited using the DC vacuum arc evaporation process and the cause-effect relationships between the deposition conditions, the resulting microstructure and the resulting mechanical properties were studied. Two of the investigated coatings (AlCrNbSiTiV)N and (HfNbTaTiVZr)N were selected and modified by the design approach of HEN/TiN multilayers to further improve their mechanical properties. The damage tolerance was investigated on selected coating systems. This was achieved by a comparative application of the mechanical test methods of microcantilever bending, in situ tensile testing of coated substrates, scratch testing using two indenter geometries and the application of the calotte wear test. Taking the underlying loading situations into account, the characteristic values of the test methods and the coating properties of hardness, the ratio of hardness and indentation modulus, the residual stresses and the fracture toughness were compared. Furthermore, the thermal stability of individual coating systems was investigated by annealing them in laboratory air and in vacuum. The deposited HEN exhibited single-phase facecentered cubic microstructures. For three of the investigated coatings (AlCrTaTiZr)N, (AlCrMoTaTiZr)N and (AlCrNbSiTiV)N a significant grain refinement with increasing substrate bias was observed. This was not the case for the three purely refractory coatings (HfNbTiVZr)N, (CrHfTiVZr)N and (HfNbTaTiVZr)N. For individual coatings, hardnesses close to the super-hard range (hardness > 40 GPa) could be realized. Correlations were established between the characteristic values of the mechanical test methods and the coating properties. It was shown that the damage tolerance can neither be estimated by a single coating property nor by a single test method. Rather, the coating properties must be specifically selected on the basis of the mechanical loads present in the potential application in order to realize a high damage tolerance. The analyzed coatings exhibit high thermal stability in a vacuum, but do not show sufficient surface passivation after exposure to laboratory air, which leads to complete oxidation of the coatings.
Publications
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Abscheidung nitridischer Hartstoffschichten auf der Basis von Hochentropielegierungen mit Hilfe des Arc-PVD-Verfahrens und deren Charakterisierung, in: T. Sörgel (Ed.), Jahrbuch Oberflächentechnik 2020, Eugen G. Leuze Verlag, Bad Saulgau, 2020
M. Kuczyk, T. Krülle, O. Schmidt, E. dos Santos Maximo, J. Kaspar, O. Zimmer, M. Zimmermann & C. Leyens
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Untersuchung der Schadenstoleranz nitridischer Beschichtungen auf Basis von Hochentropielegierungen, in: S. Brockmann, U. Krupp (Eds.), Werkstoffe und Bauteile auf dem Prüfstand: Prüftechnik - Kennwertermittlung - Schadensvermeidung, Stahlinstitut VDEh, Düsseldorf, 2021, pp. 259–264
M. Kuczyk, M. Zawischa, M. Leonhardt, T. Krülle, O. Zimmer, J. Kaspar, C. Leyens & M. Zimmermann
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Microstructure and mechanical properties of high entropy alloy nitride coatings deposited via direct current cathodic vacuum arc deposition. Surface and Coatings Technology, 448, 128916.
Kuczyk, Martin; Krülle, Tim; Zawischa, Martin; Kaspar, Jörg; Zimmer, Otmar; Leonhardt, Michael; Leyens, Christoph & Zimmermann, Martina
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In situ mechanical testing of hard yet tough high entropy nitride coatings deposited on compliant steel substrates. Thin Solid Films, 787, 140137.
Kuczyk, Martin; Zawischa, Martin; Krülle, Tim; Vollhüter, Jan; Zeiler, Stefan; Leonhardt, Michael; Kaspar, Jörg; Zimmer, Otmar; Göken, Mathias; Leyens, Christoph & Zimmermann, Martina
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Untersuchung des Verdampfungsprozesses und der Schichtabscheidung von nitridischen Hochentropielegierungen mittels PVD- Verdampfung, in: T. Sörgel (Ed.), Jahrbuch Oberflächentechnik 2023, Eugen G. Leuze Verlag, Bad Saulgau, 2023
T. Krülle, M. Leonhardt, M. Kuczyk, S. Srocke, O. Zimmer & C. Leyens
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The Influence of Nitrogen Partial Pressure on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of HfNbTaTiVZr High-Entropy Nitride Coating Deposited via Direct Current Cathodic Vacuum Arc Deposition. Coatings, 14(4), 398.
Krülle, Tim; Kuczyk, Martin; Leonhardt, Michael; Zimmer, Otmar & Leyens, Christoph
